Destination Kāwaroa, led by Taranaki Foundation with Ngāmotu, Ngāti Te Whiti, NPDC and NP Partners, transformed Kāwaroa Park into an intergenerational play and learning space celebrating the area’s nature, culture and stories. Featuring sensory play, water and hill elements, accessible facilities, and learning linked to NZ curricula, it has become a thriving, free hub for connection, recreation and cultural engagement, attracting up to 2,000 daily visitors since August 2025.
Entry credits:
New Plymouth District Council
Thankyou to our award sponsor:
Beca
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Excellence in Digital Local Government
Members Choice
Tairāwhiti Civil Defence COP Intelligence Dashboard
Following the Tairāwhiti flood event in March 2022, which revealed coordination challenges due to a lack of situational awareness, the Tairawhiti Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) team initiated an innovative
Award Year: 2024
Excellence in Digital Local Government
Members Choice
Turning The Tide: Large Woody Debris AI-assisted Removal
Tairāwhiti developed an AI-assisted system to manage large woody debris (LWD) after severe weather and Cyclone Gabrielle. Using aerial and drone imagery with a Multi-Criteria Assessment, the programme prioritises risks,
Award Year: 2026
Excellence in Placemaking
A Place for Everyone
A Place for Everyone showcases the newly refurbished, reopened Hastings municipal centre. A stunning building in its own right, the centre forms an integral part of Toitoi, the city’s arts
Award Year: 2023
